Deal will save some bison near Yellowstone from slaughter

Montana and federal officials announced a deal Thursday to let some bison migrate through a private ranch bordering Yellowstone National Park, the Associated Press reports. It would allow a small number of the animals to avoid slaughter under a disease control program that has claimed more than 3,000 bison since 2000.

The deal, estimated at $2.8 million, would give the bison access to more than 5,000 acres of federal land outside the park.

Despite criticism from the livestock industry and bison advocates, park officials characterized the deal as breaking an eight-year impasse on one of the National Park Service's most divisive wildlife issues.

"Until today, bison were never allowed to use that space," said Yellowstone National Park Supt. Suzanne Lewis.

All other bison leaving the park during the winter migration still would be subject to slaughter. Since last fall, a record 1,601 bison have been killed to prevent the spread of the disease brucellosis, which can cause cows to abort their developing calves.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Photo: Garrett Cheen / Associated Press

Comments

[Jim Macdonald]

"Some" is technically true (kind of) but very misleading. This year, of 1,601 killed, 1,576 would have still been killed. Of those 25, they have to be returned to the park. There's no telling whether they might not be killed the next year. These 25, separated from their herds, will also be tested, the females fitted with vaginal transmitters.

Like so many of the headlines, this one might be true at "some" level, but it's very misleading.

On another point your readers might not be aware, of 4,700 bison that existed in the fall, the government is now reporting, (see Jackson Hole News & Guide as one reference) that 2,400 are now dead - in fact, they've only counted 1,950. A winter storm is coming. It's still winter in the park; many buffalo are famished, facing predation and dying. They were not allowed to leave; this agreement would have only helped 25 (and perhaps, not even them - for a lot of other reasons) survive. Thus, over half of Yellowstone's buffalo are now dead; more dead are coming.

Remember that when you or your friends visit Yellowstone.

[russell]

Absolutely astonishing that in this day and age, people still have no decency nor conscience.